Challenges Of Life

CHALLENGES OF LIFE Dr. David oyedepo

Published by Dr. David oyedepo, 2017.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. CHALLENGES OF LIFE First edition. March, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Dr. David oyedepo. Written by Dr. David oyedepo.

INTRODUCTION

Challenges are what make life Interesting and overcoming them is what makes Life meaningful. We all know that life isn't that simple and that throughout our journey in life we might face numerous challenges, problems and setbacks. The difference between people who succeed in life and those who don't is their ability to face life challenges correctly and not the absence of challenge.

HOW TO HANDLE THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE

Man's level of strength will always be tested by certain challenges in life. The degree of divine strength a Christian is blessed with becomes known when he is able to face challenges and emerges a victor thereafter. Challenges are not strange to Christians. They are testers of strength. Notwithstanding your baptism, salvation Experience, commitment to kingdom service, challenges

will come. They help Christians update themselves in readiness for a consistent relationship with God. Life Is a Battleground. The reality of life is that both things prayed for and things not prayed for will come. Christians should not be caught unawares. In John 16-33, Jesus said, in the world ye shall have tribulation... (KJV).

So challenges are inevitable and have become relevant to this physical world since the time Adam was banished from the Garden of Eden. Was it not after Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights that the devil went to tempt Him? Spirituality is not immunity to the scourge of challenges. The degree of divine strength in Jesus was too great for the devil to overcome. So should it be for every Christian. Challenges may come from Time to time to test your strength but do not allow them to scare you away from your destiny. Do you know that it takes your permission for the enemy to operate in your life?

Nothing can kill a believer without first securing his consent. Would you consent to losing your life to the enemy?

Proverbs 24:10 says If you falter in time of trouble, how small is your Strength...

WHY DO CHALLENGES COME?

1)

Adversities can be God permitted for a specific purpose: Some

accidents in life are not cause by sin. In fact, not every sufferers because he/she has committed sin. It is not every suffering that is traceable to sin. Job did not do anything contrary to the word of God when he passed

through the anguish that befell him. Paul and Silas were not put to jail as a punishment for any known sin. It was for the Glory of God. How incomprehensible this God is, you say, God may cause a man to go Glory of God. How incomprehensible this God is, you say, God may cause a man to go through hardship to fulfill a divine purpose.

2) They may come to draw Christian closer to God:

Challenges show the way to miracles. Some Christian will wave good bye to God if they become too comfortable God loves you and does not want to lose you. Hence, He brings men to his side by allowing challenges to charge them up and thereby draw them closer to himself...

3) Challenges pave way for promotion:

God will never permit challenges that his people are not able to handle. In fact, the challenges that Christian face come because they have solutions to them, which in turn brings promotion.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. God wants you to stand up from that position of helplessness, until He helps you, you are helpless. Since he will always provide a way out of your hardship, your promotion is secured in his grace.

THE METHODS OF HANDLING CHALLENGES IN LIFE

Never you turn your back to challenges. They bow when you stand up to them.

You cannot conquer what u cannot confront.

James 4:7 says Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Resist the enemy by pursuing him to his gate. When the battle line is drawn at the gate of enemy, it is apparent that you are winning. Do not turn your back until you have completely won the battle. The Church too will not turn her back, but will press against the devil because the battle is taking place at the gate of hell.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus Christ said...I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it... (KJV).

God does not expect any of his children to turn his/her back in the face of opposition because your back is uncovered and unprotected. You will not be shot down in the name of Jesus.

Ephesians 6:14-17 says, stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

Never turn your back in the face of opposition because whoever is fighting you is fighting God and greater is He that is in you than He that is in the World.

THINGS TO DO WHEN CHALLENGES COME ARE:

1) INVITE GOD INTO YOUR SITUATION:

The disciples of Jesus Christ could not have survived the sea storm, if Jesus had not been with them. So I ask you a question, Is Jesus in your boat of Life? If Jesus is not in your marriage, business, career and the likes, pleases invite Him in.

2) RESPOND TO THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

You should be confident to take action that can be scriptural explained at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Speak the word of God into situation and boldly take a step of faith into your destiny.

Hebrews 11:1 says faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

3) EVALUATE YOUR RESULTS AND REDEFINE YOUR STRATEGIES FROM TIME TO TIME:

If we have a vision in life, we should be care the way we run it. Certain forces may be contending such vision with you. Therefore redefine your strategies from time to time to confuse your adversaries. A good Christian is dynamic, versatile and able to move with trend, yet on course with God.

Colossians 4:2 says Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful...In verse 5, it says be wise in the way you act towards outsiders, make the most of every opportunity...

4) SEEK WHAT GOD IS SEEKING:

A believer should examine himself again and again to be sure if he is in tune with A believer should examine himself again and again to be sure if he is in

tune with the instructions contained in the word of God concerning his business, career, ministry Etc. The solution you are seeking should be an answer to what God desires, for example, Hannah was looking for a child but God was looking for a prophet, the day Hannah said to God that if he would give her a son, she would give him a prophet, God Answered her prayer. In other words, is your heart right with God? The sooner you grow and mature in your relationship with God, the nearer your lifting...

Gen 25:19-23 “ And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac in treated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the

LORD was in treated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, if it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger”

Looking at the life of Esau, one cannot but learn a few lessons from him. Esau was the first born of Isaac. He was a twin. Being the first of the twins, he was supposed to inherit the double portion blessing meant for firstborns. But he had a major challenge: before his birth, a prophecy that would rob him of his rightful place had already gone forth. His problems started while he was still in the womb of his mother! Esau’s mother, Rebekah, had a lot of discomfort during her pregnancy, and so she went to ask the lord what the

matter was.

“And the LORD said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger”. Genesis 25:23 The

forces that would truncate Esau’s destiny were already in place

before his birth. Therefore, from the very day he was born, He was born into trouble.do you know that like Esau, many people are born into trouble? Before Moses was born, the decree that made it illegal for him to live had already been passed. He was born to die prematurely, but God stepped into

the scene and preserved his life (Exodus 1:15-2:9).similarly, after Jesus was born, a decree was passed to kill him (Matthew 2:13-19).king Herod and his army were on the lookout for him. They searched so thoroughly that for the child Jesus to be safe, God had to instruct joseph to escape with him to another country, Egypt. The lord who delivered Moses and Jesus will also deliver you! Have some people seen your destiny while you were in your mother‘s womb, and declared war against you? The lord will arise for you and put them to shame in Jesus’ name. We should learn from the circumstances surrounding Esau’s life that you cannot correctly compare one person with another, because their foundation are not the same. One of them might make easy progress in life with no trouble at all, because he or she was born into peace, while the other fellow may have been battling to survive even from the mother’s womb. Every battle that pre-dates your birth is terminated today! The lord will put to flight

all unknown enemies working against your destiny